GROUNDWATER MONITORING IN THE POLISH LITHUANIAN CROSSBORDER AREA
J. GIEDRAITIENE, S. DOKTOR, J. SATKŪNAS1, M. GRANICZNY2
1
Geological Survey of Lithuania, Lt 2600 Vilnius, Konarskio 35, Lithuania
e-mail: jonas.satkunas@lgt.lt
2
Polish Geological Institute, 00-975 Warszawa, st Rakowiecka. 4, Poland
e-mail: mgra@pgi.waw.pl
Geological limits of structures and deposits usually
do not coincide to borders of states. The use of
subsurface resources, pollution of ground water,
changes of landscapes in border area of one state
could influence the environment of subsurface of
the neighbouring country. Especially sensitive
element of subsurface is groundwater, which
resources are forming in extensive areas by
recharge and could flow crossing the administrative
borders. Pollution or changes of hydrodynamics of
the groundwater due to its extraction or mining of
mineral resources could impact the quality and
resources of groundwater over cross-border
territories and could make an impetus for hazardous
geological processes such as karst or erosion.
Therefore the knowledge on geological structure,
potential processes and environmental risks there
are of particular importance for sustainable use of
cross-border areas and co-operation between
neighbouring states (Satkunas and Graniczny
Fig. 1. Network of the Groundwater Monitoring
1997). The co-operation in cross-border territories
is very important for the implementation of the
Principles for a European Spatial Development
Policy and could contribute to reduction of
environmental
pollution
and
to
secure
environmental capacities of European significance
(Graute 1995). Need and significance of monitoring
of transboundary groundwaters recently is stressed
by Economic Commission for Europe, which
established in 1994 the Task Force on Monitoring
and Assessment of Transboundary Waters
(Inventory….1999).
Requirement to have and use geological data of
cross-border territories has its legal basis in national
level as well. For instance, the Underground Law of
Republic of Lithuania states that “the utilisation of
underground and other economic activity in
Republic of Lithuania must not have a negative
influence to the state of environment and
subsurface of other States and thus cause damage to
its population. Government of Republic of
Lithuania shall take care that the utilisation of the
underground and other economic activities carried
out in neighbouring States would not have a
negative influence on the state of the environment,
valuable features and resources and would not
cause damage to the population. It is the
aim of international agreements on the
regulation of economic activities and
utilisation of the underground in border
territories, exchange of data about the
state of the underground, promotion of
co-operation in the exploration of the
underground and by other means”.
In 1994-1997 the first phase of joint
Polish-Lithuanian
programme
of
environmental geological research “Belt
of Yotvings – fragment of Green Lungs
of Europe” has been successfully
completed
(Atlas…1997).
As
continuation of the joint programme
“Belt of Yotvings” a groundwater
monitoring project has been elaborated
and started in 1994.
Groundwater
monitoring
in
Lithuanian-Polish cross-border area is
being carried out already 5 years. The
monitoring is aimed to groundwater
quality assessment of the main aquifers
used in the both countries, elucidation
of trends of changes of the groundwater state, and
forecast of changes in future.
Five years observations resulted with
conclusions:
 both states in the cross-bordercare exploit
groundwater of high quality;
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



according to macrocomponents the crossborder area can be subdivided into two parts:
southeastern and northwestern; In the
northwestern
part
values
of
main
macrocomponentic indicators are higher than
in southeastern part. This seems is caused by
peculiarities of conditions of groundwater
forming environments;
trends of some groundwater chemistry
indicators are not equal and depend on
different intensity of land use and economic
activities in both countries;
in Lithuanian side in some stations are more
visible trend of increase of sulfates, chloride
ions (Aukštakalnis, Jurgežeris stations) (Fig.2);
Due to diminished demand for exploitation in
artesian aquifers hydrodynamic situation is
changing. For instance, in Aukštakalnis station
(Lithuania), where the groundwater level of
Quaternary intertills and Paleogene aquifers is
under observation, significant seasonal
variations of groundwater level have been
determined – from 0,5 to 3,5 m, which is
uncommon for natural conditions;
Anyway, as it was mentioned, main aim of the
groundwater examinations is determination of long
term changes of groundwater state and its
20
15
Cl (Aukštakalnis)
5
0
94.06.
95.10.
97.03.
40
98.07.
99.12.
01.04.
SO4 (Jurgežeriai)
mg/l
30
20
10
0
94.06.
95.10.
97.03.
98.07.
99.12.
01.04.
Fig. 2. Trends of Cl, SO4 and pH


SO 4 (Giby)
mg/l
mg/l
10
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
94.06.
This trend is opposite in Polish side in
Jenorajscie station;
The same trends are characteristic for the main
cations (Ca and Mg);
7,7
7,6
7,5
7,4
7,3
7,2
7,1
7
94.06.
95.10.
97.03.
98.07.
99.12.
01.04.
pH (Burbiszki)
95.10.
97.03.
98.07.
99.12.
01.04.
prognosis. Taking in mind the intensive crossborder use, necessity of environmental impact
assessment (due to implementation of the Espoo
convention) etc. the groundwater monitoring must
be continued
.
REFERENCES
ATLAS “Geology for environmental protection and
territorial planning in the Polish-Lithuanian
cross-border area”. Scale 1:500 000. Warsaw
1997. P. 89.
GRAUTE, U. (ed.) 1995: Newsletter 5. Network of
Spatial Research Institutes in Central and
Eastern Europe. Dresden, p.72.
INVENTORY
OF
TRANSBOUNDARY
GROUNDWATERS. Volume 1. UN/ECE Task
Force on Monitoring and Assessment. Lelystad
1999. 284p.
SATKUNAS J. and GRANICZNY M. 1997 .
Lithuanian
Polish
cross-border
geoenvironmental mapping and its relevancy to
spatial development. Engineering Geology and
Environment (Marinos, Koukis, Tsiambaos and
Stoumaras eds.) 1997, Balkema 1483- 1486.
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